Phillies

ring where I could possibly be going with this, let me be the first to say, I really don't like the Phillies. However, as a loyal and lifelong Cubs fan, I thought I should point out that the Phils are the logical choice to root for in this World Series.

Continue reading "Being a true Cubs fan means rooting ..."

 

           With the Phillies winning their NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, it got me thinking whether Philadelphia is a Football town or a Baseball town?  On Thursday evening on Fox, the

Continue reading "Philly Is Still A Football Town"

flatly insisted that hitting .400 is all but impossible), second in homers behind the Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley (who has 21), and is tied for second in RBIs with Utley behind the San Diego Padres' Adrian Gonzalez (who has 57).

Continue reading "Ol' Roy O shows up, Astros beat Brewers 6-1"

e middle of the game, no less.

Carlos Lee's first-inning three-run homerun went for nought as the Phillies scored a combined 11 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to win 15-6. Astros starter Chris Sampson gave up four runs in five innings, but compared to the relievers, he looked like Cy Young. Fernando Nieve, pitching in the big leagues for the first time since 2006, didn't get anybody out as he gave up four runs. He picked up the loss and has a hefty ERA of 18.00. Lefty Wesley Wright gave up one run in an inning and Dave Borkowski gave up six runnings in one inning.

Continue reading "Astros brought down to earth by Phillies"

orner we have Brandon Backe, who pitched a gem of a game last night in the Astros' 4-3 win over the Phillies--giving up six hits and only one earned run in 7.1 innings pitched. He walked a hitter and struck out six.

Continue reading "Who's the man? Brandon Backe? Hunter ..."

The Philadelphia Phillies' 7-5 win Thursday night over the Houston Astros reminded me so much of Alanis Morrisette's song Ironic. You remember, don't you? Back in 2005, Brad Lidge steps to the mound to close out Game 5 of the NLCS and give Houston its first-ever visit to the World Series. Up steps Albert Pujols, who promptly launches Lidge's fastball somewhere near...well, its landing has never been officially confirmed. Lidge's "Lights Out" nickname promptly faded as he struggled. Houston felt a change in scenery was needed, so Lidge was sent off to the

Continue reading "Former Astro gets his revenge"

Bad news, that was all of the offense as the ’Stros got creamed by the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2. I guess the City of Brotherly Love wasn’t so brotherly for Houston.  

Astros starter Brandon Backe, who’d done so well so far, lasted three innings and got shelled for 10 hits, six runs (five earned) and a home run. Jose Valverde, who had been the Astros closer, went out and essentially pitched batting practice in the eighth inning: two hits, two earned runs and a home run. He has an ERA of 12.27. Of course, considering the score had been 8-2 when Valverde took the mound, he was essentially a mop-up pitcher today. 

Continue reading "Back to the drawing board for the ..."

against the Philadelphia Phillies last night, Oswalt (1-3) threw seven innings and gave up five hits and only one earned run. He walked two and struck out three as the Astros (6-9) edged out the Philadelphia

Continue reading "How Roy Oswalt got his groove back"

Closer Jose Valverde gave up four runs in the ninth inning while getting only one out as the Phillies beat the Astros 4-3. It was Valverde’s second blown save of the season. In the inning, two of the hits he gave up were home runs. The other hit was a walk-off double. It’s interesting to note that Valverde actually had two strikeouts in the inning, but the second was on a passed ball that allowed what turned out to be the winning run to be safe at first. 

Continue reading "Astros waste another brilliant pitching ..."

The Astros take on the Philadelphia Phillies in a brief three-game road trip, followed by a brief homestand. Taking the mound tonight for Houston is righthander Shawn Chacon. Good news: Chacon is undefeated on the season with six strikeouts. Bad news: he is also winless and has walked eight batters. Can Chacon carry on the success shown so far by Brandon Backe and Wandy Rodriguez? We'll find out.

Continue reading "Houston Astros' road trip begins tonight"